Black People Dont Do Atheism

By Tiff J (www.coffeerhetoric.com) The one looming thing that has always been an enduring force in the Black community (since slavery was in several different denominations and almost seems to be a given, if you're part of the Diaspora and abolished), is the Black Church. The Black Church comes The Hart Monitor Issue 7 September 2012 Page 1 Black People Dont Do Atheism Page 2 Why Biracial? Page 3 Council Convenes Summit of Faith Groups to Tackle Violence in City Page 4 Why I Think Decriminalization Is Not Worth Fighting For Page 6 What Do We Have to Do For Justice? Page 7 Pay It Forward: Heroics At Its Best Open Letter to President Barack Obama Page 8 Recommended Reading Join Us!

Whenever the topic of religion would casually make its way into my interactions, I'd often go out of my way to pacify people's egos (at the and would feign interest with the expense of my own ego and comfort) proverbial "I don't go to church, but

specifically if you're Black-American. While it may not always come up during casual conversations, it's

always assumed that if you're Black, in-between different congregations to find the perfect one to suit your

you belong to a church, or that you're while you weigh your options trying needs and sensibilities. As a young(er) adult, I always loathed the question; because I didn't and don't.

I'm a spiritual person" political

answer, when in fact I'm not. I've

never been religious (even as a young girl) or had any inclination towards the rituals of worship. I'm finally this fact about myself. comfortable enough to publicly state

"So, what church do you belong to?"

As this current cult of personality attitudes within the Black community about religion. members, friends, and even work colleagues; the

I would always dance around the question or evoke some cleverly evasive answer to placate the query, because potential friendships, opportunities, or social settings always seemed contingent upon whether you attended a church or if you were willing (without question) to attend a prospective friend's church. I've or lack thereof, because quite frankly, I never felt comfortable having these sorts of conversations.

continues to move forward, so are

Despite the backlash and collective gasps from family trepidation many of us feel about not being... well... holierthan-thou is starting to ebb as more of us are finally identify as an atheist and have been one for years saying the controversial 'A' word out loud; and yes, I (officially since high school, in fact), even when I never the backlash I'd undoubtedly experience.

never alluded to or written about my religious affiliations

actually said it out loud, due to the concerns I had from

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The disdain most of us receive from some folks is palpable

at times. I've heard horror stories from folks, who divulged that some of their family members were more forgiving of the criminal infractions committed by incarcerated family their college educated, gainfully employed, skirmish-free son or daughter/niece or nephew/granddaughter or grandson who came out as an atheist. members or that one creepy pedo-uncle, than they were of

Why Biracial?
By Joanna Iovino A while back, I was made aware of a movie entitled "Biracial, not Black, Dammit!" I could not even bring myself to watch the documentary, because I assumed it fact, a tool of white supremacy. The more white divided the stronger the racists become. was a blatant rejection of the Black collective, and was, in supremacists can convince non-white people to remain

Fortunately for me and many others like me, what you think no longer matters.

I've gotten beyond the point in my life, where I'm willing to compromise who I am as an adult woman, because someone else is incapable of accepting that people are

The "One Drop Rule" previously was used as a method to keep people who had Black heritage down. Once an individual was identified as having Black heritage, it was drop of Black blood made an individual, no matter their physical appearance, tainted and designated as a that restricted their lives based on their race. White people ALSO used the categories of mulatto, Quadroon and Octoroon to keep Black people divided. It was the Willie Lynch Syndrome in action. Whites encouraged people who were lighter skinned to consider themselves better than darker skinned individuals, and they received SLIGHTLY better treatment in order to assure their complicity in maintaining stratification and disharmony among Black people. The most frightening prospect for white people was that Black people would unite and fight for freedom.

different, have the right to live in the splendor of their true selves, and have a difference of opinion. I am an atheist and have no desire to condescend to anyone else for being devout in their religious belief; nor do I wish to explain why I don't believe. Moreover, I have zero interest in listening to someone list all the reasons why they're

easy for white people to dismiss and subjugate them. One

Negro. They were then subjected to Black Codes laws

Christian or whatever other affiliation they adhere to. Atheism (to me) is simply suspension of belief. I don't care one way or the other whether or not some God or some other similar entity exists because, well, none of it exists in

my world. There. My dirty little secret is out. So the

likelihood of me ever attending your church or praying about Black women being among the country's most

with (or for) you, isn't very likely; despite the recent study religious groups. My suspension of religious belief has absolutely no bearing on my social mores or cultural universals. I'm not dancing around a fire, naked and non-believers. conjuring up spells, contrary to what some folks think of

This division is perpetuated today by designating Black

In a recent installment of the documentary web series,

people who have a white parent as biracial or mixed.

"Black Folk Don't..."; where the filmmakers set out to

explore stereotypes about what many Black people know, we're a monolith and all) -- they conduct

The widespread acceptance of this classification is used to convince these individuals that they are, in fact, are closer to "whiteness" and should therefore reject the notion of struggling to dismantle white supremacy. This is a dangerous situation. While some people claim that the term "biracial" allows them to embrace the fullness of their heritage, I think, unfortunately, that white people often use it to keep Black people, who could otherwise be working together to end racism, stratified. It creates a sort of "buffer" zone between white and Black,

collectively don't do as a community-- (because you interviews with various folks about Black spirituality, and featured a wide array of different opinions most of whom agreed that atheism wasnt common amongst on atheism) can be seen at www.blackfolkdont.com.

people of the Diaspora. The series (including the segment

The Hart Monitor Issue 7 September 2012

which is used to convince people that racism/white supremacy is no longer an issue.

fight for the cause of justice, and for the elevation of the refer to themselves as "biracial". That term seems to be

Black collective. But I have never once heard any of them reserved for the confused, for those longing to be "white".

I find it extremely disconcerting when I hear white people who have children with a Black partner insist that their upon the use of the term "biracial" indicates to me that to replace white supremacy with justice for all. The child is not Black, but is, in fact, "biracial". Their insistence they are not at all allies with Black people in the struggle offhanded dismissal of the "Blackness" of their child leads their child to subconsciously identify more strongly with "whiteness", which is, let's face the facts, an easier existence. The more white people can convince so called "biracial" people that they have a vested interest in being "part cause of racial justice. It teaches so called "biracial" white" the more they can convince them to reject the children that it is of ultimate importance to elevate and embrace "whiteness". By doing so, it manufactures an existential crisis in that child that prevents him/her from taking up the cause of justice. White people do this in order to convince individuals who classify themselves as

Council Convenes Summit of Faith Groups to Tackle Violence in City

by Council President Shawn T. Wooden

Last month with the leadership of Councilwoman Cynthia R. Jennings and Councilman Kyle K. Anderson I had the distinct privilege of convening a summit of City Council members, Police Chief James Rovella, and

"biracial" or "mixed" to reject the notion that "whiteness" is a condition that must be annihilated in order for there to be a more just world. If the white supremacists can convince a person that he is "biracial" then it is only a

representatives of dozens of faith-based and community organizations. Our mission that day was a simple but important one - identify how we can make our city a safer place. There are many theories out there about how to reduce crime, and most of them recognize that community engagement is a crucial piece of the puzzle. The summit was opened with a prayer from Bishop Joel Cruz, Sr., the father of newly appointed Councilman Joel Cruz, Jr. Hartford is a small city, but home to hundreds of churches and thousands of people who want to clean up our streets. With each young person gunned down, the immediacy of the problem becomes clearer. The statistics reflect a city with fewer homicides than last year, but statistics violence. Statistics can't bring back the young people whose lives are taken in our city.

short journey to the defense of whiteness. After all, if you are "half white", then you should be invested in preserving the white race, right?

I cringe whenever I hear people protest that a child is "biracial", not Black. Not only are they denying the impact that being classified as "nonwhite" has on the life of a "whiteness" as an ideal. child, but they are also teaching that child to embrace

Biracial is just an artificial category devised by white supremacists to boost the number of people who are "white identified". When I hear "embracing both sides of your heritage" pushed as the ultimate goal of using the an attempt to negate the evils perpetrated by the white race over so many centuries. "biracial" label, I immediately recognize it for what it is...

don't matter much when someone's family is touched by

The diverse faith-based organizations in our city can play an enormous role in the solution. They are already engaged in our community and care deeply about the

I have seen many individuals who have a white parent

The Hart Monitor Issue 7 September 2012

young people of our city. Working together, city officials my Council colleagues and I brought them together last month for a discussion about how we can best equip ourselves to reduce violence in the city. We discussed many tools and strategies during our

and faith leaders can accomplish great things. That is why

together and empowers us to make our city a better place.

Why I think decriminalization is not worth fighting for

By Clifford W. Thornton Decriminalization (as opposed to "Legalization") refers to simply removing criminal penalties for any drug. It usually means that possession of personal amounts becomes a civil penalty (like a parking ticket), but some people also take it to mean the complete removal of illegal laws from the books. A civil penalty bill was attempted in the 2009 Connecticut legislature, but it did not pass. First, let's dispense with the "remove all drug laws from the books" proposal. As an intoxicant, treating marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc. like spinach or dandelions will simply never happen, at least not this century. There is decent public support for the idea of civil-penalty-style decriminalization. People generally don't think you can or should go to jail for possessing small amounts of illegal substances, but Connecticut law specifies a jail term. Even if you don't go to jail when you're convicted of a crime, you consequently acquire a permanent criminal record that will show up in background checks. Additionally, you may be drug tested, lose your job or housing, be barred from professional associations, education, grants, public assistance, gun ownership, and so forth. So, the idea of decriminalizationprotecting the end user from these consequencesseems sound. My three main problems with decriminalization are: Decriminalization leaves the criminal black market intact. There's little reason for people who do not use illegal substances to support decriminalization. Decriminalization supports the lie that there's something wrong about illegal drug use.

meeting, including current community outreach practices, a geographic plan for religious organizations to build a sense of community in their neighborhoods, and how we can work together to keep our young people on the right track.

"We can work together to create a web of love that

embraces our young people. There is more that we can do, and I am so happy to see our city and the faith-based Jennings said of the summit. groups in Hartford coming together to find a solution,"

The new Chief of the Hartford Police Department, James C. Rovella, also recognized the importance of the faith community as it relates to public safety. Encouraged by the eagerness of the community to help tackle the problem, he said, "[The police] are just a part of the solution." Rovella also discussed the need to focus on preventative -

not reactive - measures, another focus of the summit. It is not enough to respond to violence. Our goal as a city must be to eliminate the violence in the first place. This means winning the hearts and minds of our city's young people for their lives. As institutions already intertwined with just that. Councilman Anderson, Chair of the Quality of Life, Public Safety, and Housing Committee, put it simply and eloquently when he addressed the group gathered at the summit and said, "We can fix this. This is a strong community." That is precisely the attitude that we need to foster, and making sure that they have safe and healthy options Hartford families, faith-based organizations can help do

strengthen, and instill in the people of our city. Because that the people of our city can't overcome if we work

Hartford is a strong community, and there is no problem together. And faith is, in many ways, the glue that binds us

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Decrim and the black market So, imagine that decrim has passed and now illegal drug enthusiasts face only a $50 parking-ticket-style fine if they get caught with a personal bag of a given drug. That's helpful to the tens of thousands of Connecticut adults who carry a bag of illegal drug from time to time, no doubt. But where did they get the bag? From Debbie the Dealer, who imported in bulk from Oregon or California or Canada or Mexico, or grew it in a closet or spare room or warehouse or garden. There's little public support for Debbie's activities. Her business is "illegitimate"; she commits a felony to engage in it. Big law enforcement budgets are justified by her activities. She risks losing her house and car and everything due to civil asset forfeiture laws. She pays no taxes on her profits. Anyone she hires to help out likewise engages in a felony, pays no taxes, has no workers comp, etc. Her product is not regulated for purity or potency or adulterants. She probably has to deal in cash, and is hence a target for robbery; she may arm herself to prepare for every transaction, which must take place in out-of-the-way locations. So, decrim, as generally proposed, leaves most of the apparatus of prohibition in place. It would protect a lot of people from arrest, which is a big benefit, but I argue that's not good enough, especially when you consider my next two problems with decrim. Decrim and public support You can motivate a lot of people with altruistic arguments about justice and compassion. Lots of people agree that jail time is not an appropriate penalty for pot possession. Nearly all regular users of given illegal drug (something like 12% of adults) will agree with you. Add in some libertarians and those who have done it "back in the day" or know someone who enjoys the occasional "special brownie" etc. , and you may indeed get a majority to endorse your decrim proposal. If we can assuage their concerns though, we should be able to generate even stronger support for a taxed, regulated model for legalization, medicalization and decriminalization from:

Parents who want to keep illegal drugs away from their kids and consequently demand that illegal drug sales require age verification. Parents who want to keep illegal drugs away from their kids and consequently demand that illegal drug sales require age verification.

Illegal Drug-haters who want to "tax those people who aren't paying their fair share". Business people who see Illegal drugs as an opportunity for legitimate entrepreneurial endeavors and economic growth.

Local cops and prosecutors and judges who want to spend more time dealing with real criminals that threaten life and property.

Politicians and criminal justice advocates who want to disrupt the criminal gangs currently in control of much of the illegal drug industry.

Civic leaders who see the potential for a new income stream for government to support education and health care and other public services.

Economic developers and chambers of commerce and other business associations that see the opportunity for the rise of a whole new class of agricultural producers, processors, and retailers.

If we can do a good enough job describing these benefits to these audiences, we will eventually pass a comprehensive Illegal drug legalization bill in Connecticut and nationwide. Decrim supports the lie My third problem with decrim is that it continues to

The Hart Monitor Issue 7 September 2012

support the lie that there's something wrong, something blameworthy, about using illegal drugs. By continuing to maintain penalties for merely possessing or growing a plant, we support the absurd contention that there's something evil about the plant itself, and that those who dare to partake of it are themselves somehow morally tainted. Inherent in such a policy is a denial of our fundamental right as adults to decide what to put in our bodies. We need to be clear with the public that we do not support driving under the influence, or any other irresponsible behavior with illegal drugs. But we must object vigorously to the baseless claim that my vaporizer, needle, or pipe is somehow a sin, while my neighbor's glass of wine is not. Decrim isn't good enough. It preserves the black market, fails to draw support from important groups, and supports the lie that there's something morally wrong about illegal drug use. Given the history of this country and the drug war itself, there are enough reports to fill three rooms in anyone's house to prove this point. Once again, the enforcement of decrim will be predominately in marginalized areas, continuing the ugly pattern of enforcement imbalance between minority and non-minority neighborhoods. And this burdens government with additional administrative costs such as those associated with individuals who are not able to pay a fine. Instead, we need to end the drug war and all its trappings. We need to fully legitimize illegal drugs in a responsible system of taxation and regulationsimilar to alcohol and all the while, being sure to allow individuals to produce their own at home, as we do with beer and wine. Anything less just isn't worth fighting for! Post script There are four examples of drug policy reform that taken together suggest decriminalization alone is not the solutionPortugal, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Mexico. Portugal has medicalization in place with heroin maintenancea form of legalization. It also has

methadone which is accepted in most countries as a replacement for heroin. The second, Hawaii, has police ignoring cannabis law and the third, Massachusetts, has not produced significant evidence of effectiveness. The fourth is right across our border in Mexico where in the last four years 28 thousand people have died in drugrelated incidents. LegalizeMedicalizeDecriminalize; all three must emerge and thrive together.

What Do We Have To Do for Justice?

By Cornell Lewis A federal appeal court on August 1, 2012 reversed a

$900,000 wrongful death verdict awarded to the mother of Malik Jones, a New Haven man shot to death by an East Haven police officer following a chase in 1997. A jury initially awarded the mother Emma Jones 2.5 million dollars in damages.

There are enough twists in this story to make Greek tragedy look anemic; a police officer [Robert Flood Quist] al. acted in self defense), the mother Emma failed to in the shooting cleared of murder (of course Flood Quist et present enough evidence to establish liability by the town of East Haven for the shooting by one of its police officers. After all the posturing by town officials, the victors now discuss how justice finally prevailed.

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In the long history of racial relations between blacks and the majority population in America different scenarios have occurred. Indeed, for the most part blacks get the is what do we (blacks) have to do for justice to prevail? For Malik Jones justice will not be coming from a justice is like a mirage hovering above Americas landscape.

problem, because I know you would do the same thing for when you have heroic neighbors like this?

me. This made me think Who needs neighborhood watch

short end of a stick and justice is truly blind. My question

disinterested America; for many thousands dead and gone,

Open Letter to President Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President, When I awoke this morning the first thing i thought was its time to write an open letter to you for the rest of the world to see. I thought of the first day I saw you make

Since blacks have been in America nothing-prayers, marches, demonstrations, speeches, riots/burning of citiesdelivered justice of any sort to descendants of slaves in America. It is safe to assume from past practice there will out in favor of the oppressed only to have it taken away. Ergo, I ask again, what do we have to do for justice?

never be any justice: like Malik Jones case, a verdict came

your speech to the Democratic National Convention as a young Senator from Chicago and how you inspired me, and our nation as one of the most promising young Black men in America, and of course, who thought you would rise so quickly to the presidency on the mantle of change as your slogan? Never would one have imagined you winning in the Iowa

Pay it forward: heroics at its best

by: Timothy Fraylon A fellow neighbor risked his own safety and went above and beyond to save my sons bike. Thats right, I said his bike!! My son had a bad habit of leaving his bike on our front porch. Well one early morning in mid-July while outside, house. As the guy approached my house, my neighbor thought nothing of it-- thinking he was probably an associate of mines there to do lawn work. This was far sons bike, riding away. My neighbor yelled for him to stop but he wouldnt so he proceeded to hop in his car and chase him down. After a scuffle he knocked the guy out cold and retrieved the bike. His family looked on in amazement as he rode bike back to my house. They joked and referred to him as Superman, as he had his grandsons Superman costume in his backseat. When I thanked him he said in a very calm voice No my neighbor witnessed a suspicious man walking past my

Caucuses, then on to win the Democratic primaries

leading to the presidency, in one of the most exciting

presidential races in history. Well, I was one of those hopeful Black/Cherokee dreamers who sacrificed some of on your campaign trail and traveled as far as Columbia, South Carolina (my hometown), supporting you in the from Delaware to Maine. Well I said all that to say, Mr. President, I am not happy with the way things are being handled in Washington, DC. I felt as descendent of slaves who grew up during some of the most racist times in our history, I have the primaries there and in addition, other North Eastern States my hard earned dollars, and a tremendous amount of time

from the truth, as the guy hopped off my porch with my

right for you to hear my views as a citizen of these United

States of America. Many out there in this country, for some reason or another, have given up on the American Dream of Liberty and Justice for all. They feel helpless as this system of government whose prime purpose was to

protect the rights of individuals, continually fails them and they believe that justice is no longer within their reach.

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being lost through, division, wars, religious conflicts, as who are losing hope on a daily basis as their system

Many various cultures of our nation's fabric are confused,

and senior members of their staff. I invited Norm Kurland, the President of the Center for Economic and Social Justice to give an honest opinion on the economy. During those meetings, Norm and I presented a proposal from a "Just Third Way" called the "Capital Homestead Act" which gives each American an opportunity to own a piece of the American Dream. Well,

moral decay continues to take hold on our nations young, continues to fail them. Greed has torn the very concept of unity apart as people go without basic needs, in what is considered the most powerful nation in the world. If you can remember, Moses of the Bible had to lead his was under the misconception that you were the chosen

people out of bondage. When you were elected president, I one; for the first time the presidency of this United States would be for all the people, by the people and under God's direction of an equal and just world for all humanity. But of course, the political culture and greed of the

Mr. President, if you are truly looking for solutions then at me that you have received this message and will do the right thing.

least give this one consideration, because God has signaled

Sincerely, Jimmie L. Griffin

American people superseded such a dream. I have read Garvey, who said, "A people without the knowledge of roots." You see, Mr. President as I watched you tell of Lincoln's greatness and the period following his

King, Gandhi, Mandela, Malcolm, Kennedy, Clinton and their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without

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assassination, in which, the greatest growth of this nation occurred under his new frontier proposals leading to the industrial revolution. I was encouraged at your boldness our people. But here we are today in America where

NEA ONNIM NO SUA A, He who does not know can know from learning 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Book Your Church Doesnt Want You to Read by Tim C. Leedom Holy Lockdown by Jeremiah Camara Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis Vaccines are Dangerous by Curtis Cost Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein

and desire to deliver the real American Dream back to all there's at least one sincere, honest individual who truly believes in America, who has the audacity to believe that if somehow you receive this message, that you will search for the good of all humankind. your soul as Moses did and reject the good life of royalty

Mr. President, you were the dream we had waited for, but you have been trapped in the corrupt world of American politics where corporate greed, kings and queens of the to you a laymans approach to save our nation. I also elite have come to rule the people and therefore, I purpose remind you as Kelso said" The death of the economy is the

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If you are interested in contributing to the Hart Monitor, please email info@thehartmonitor.com or call 860-4612611 Disclaimer: All articles in the Hart Monitor are the opinion of the writer listed only, not necessarily the Hart Monitor as a whole or of its sponsors. The Hart Monitor is edited by Larry Risby and Joanna Iovino, and sponsored by the CT African American Emancipation Challenge (CAAEC). You can visit us online at www.thehartmonitor.com

first step in the death of a civilization." If you Mr. President are not so removed from the people that you have reached this point in my letter, then here's what I think is a step in Just this Thursday I traveled to Washington, DC to meet the right direction, in solving this nations economic crisis. with Senator Joe Lieberman, Congressman Chris Murphy

The Hart Monitor Issue 7 September 2012